The thing about a good workout song is that it has to be semi-fast (but not too fast) and it needs to have a pretty steady beat. No matter what sort of exercise you’re doing, it’s always made more difficult when you find yourself slowing down and speeding up in response to the music, so steadily-upbeat songs are the best. Of course, it also helps if the song has some kind of motivational message, but that’s not really necessary. Workout music only needs to motivate you to keep moving and keep going, not to climb mountains or realize your dreams. (Unless, I suppose, your dream is to climb mountains and mountain-climbing is a part of your workout routine.) Any solid track with a solid beat will do the trick for most of us, regardless of what the song’s “really” about.
Now, I’ve professed my affection for Flo Rida on this blog before, so it won’t come as a surprise that I’ve chosen one of his songs for today’s pick. I’d say Flo Rida was one of my guilty pleasures, but that would require that I felt at least a modicum of guilt about loving his music, which I do not. Flo Rida’s music is my favorite kind of hip-hop, by which I mean it’s got all of the requisite thumping and wordplay that makes hip-hop great, but it also keeps melody at the fore. (Check out his track “Whistle” for an excellent example.) Today I’m picking Flo Rida’s “Low,” from his party-rific and cleverly-titled debut album Mail on Sunday. Here it is:
This is definitely a get-up-and-move song, if you’re not already moving, and an even better workout song, if you already are. I have no idea what the beats-per-minute count of “Low” is, but it feels just about perfect to me for exercising. It also has the superadded benefit of a chorus that almost forces you to act a fool every time it comes around and you find yourself incapable of resisting the command to get LOW, LOW, low, low, low, low, low…..
If you’ve ever been in a club, you’ve no doubt seen something like the equivalent of Flo Rida’s “Shawty,” with her apple-bottomed jeans, boots with the furrr, baggy sweatpants and Reeboks with the straps. She wouldn’t stop, made it drop, then she did that pop and lock. Of course the whole club was looking at herrrrr.
Def put this one on your iPod for your next workout. Next thing you know, you’ll be getting low with Shawty.
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Nostalgic? Check out my entry for Day 25 of the 2011 version of the 30 Day Song Challenge.